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Kennedy Center Names Five Artists to Lifetime Awards

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 — In its 30th year honoring lifetime achievement in the performing arts, the Kennedy Center on Tuesday named two pop-music stars, Brian Wilson and Diana Ross, as well as the humorist Steve Martin, the film director Martin Scorsese and the pianist and conductor Leon Fleisher as recipients of this year’s awards.

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Diana RossCredit
Richard Termine for The New York Times

“With their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honorees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman of the Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Center Honors draws luminaries of the arts world here each year. The annual gala, to be held on Dec. 2 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, is preceded by receptions at the White House and State Department. CBS will broadcast the ceremony in late December.

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Leon FleisherCredit
Stephanie Kuykendal for The New York Times

The once reclusive Mr. Wilson, 65, helped form the Beach Boys in the 1960s. His sunny lyrics in hits like “Good Vibrations,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “I Get Around” earned the Beach Boys enduring fame and established surf-rock as a thriving category of mainstream rock ’n’ roll.

“This is something so unexpected and I feel extremely fortunate to be in the company of such great artists,” Mr. Wilson said in a statement. He continues to tour and perform.

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Brian Wilson Credit
Craig Lassig for The New York Times

Ms. Ross, 63, whose 70 hit singles once led the Guinness Book of World Records to declare her the most successful female artist of the 20th century, had her roots in the rhythm-and-blues genre that became known as the Motown sound. She performed with the Supremes before starting a solo career and becoming an actress. Her portrayal of the jazz singer Billie Holiday in the 1972 film “Lady Sings the Blues,” earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award.

Leon Fleisher, 79, made his piano debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at age 16. He is well known for his interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms concertos and solo recordings of Schubert. In 1965 Mr. Fleisher lost the use of his right hand due to a rare neurological disease, after which he turned to conducting. He was the source of inspiration for the creation of works for the left hand, widening the scope of piano repertory. Now a faculty member at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Mr. Fleisher said he was moved to be chosen as an honoree.

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Steve MartinCredit
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

“It’s certainly one of the highest honors this country can bestow upon a person of the performing arts,” he said.

Mr. Scorsese, 64, an eight-time Academy Award-nominated director whose most recent film, “The Departed,” earned him an Oscar for best director this year, emerged from the tumult of 1970s Hollywood, where he was quickly recognized as one of the most talented and idiosyncratic filmmakers in the country. His films, including “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas,” have been widely hailed and imitated, just as his distinctive machine-gun patter in defense of film preservation and other cherished causes has become familiar in the film world.

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Martin ScorseseCredit
AP Photo/Stephen Chernin

“I’m very honored to be receiving this recognition from the Kennedy Center and proud to be joining the company of the very distinguished individuals who have received this honor in years past,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Martin, 62, built on a hugely popular career as a stand-up comedian in the ’70s to become a mainstay of films and television, starring in films like “All of Me” (1984) and “Roxanne” (1987). He also wrote frequent humor pieces, books (“Shopgirl”) and a play (“Picasso at the Lapin Agile”).

“I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for finally alleviating in me years of covetousness and trophy envy,” Mr. Martin said in a statement.

A version of this article appears in print on , on page E2 of the New York edition with the headline: Kennedy Center Names Five Artists to Lifetime Awards. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe